1.28.2013

date your husband : first & second edition

J and I have recently had a few epiphanies when it comes to our dating life...
number one : laughter makes everything better.
number two : there's nothing wrong with some good ole fashioned competition.
number three : it's nice to feel the butterflies again.

so, in light of all this, i thought it'd be fun to share in our new dating journey with a little blog mini series.
:: date your husband ::

outside of a healthy prayer life in our marriage, we've found that making quality time to spend alone together is what really grows our love and keeps us ticking as a couple.
we try to get a sitter at least one evening every 2 weeks specifically for a date night.
lately, we're trying to think outside of the box a bit.  not just dinner/coffee & a movie.
{although, we thoroughly enjoy those nights too}

first up, 
::iceskating::


neither of us had been on the ice in years {more than a decade in my case}!
and, while we have our laughs together on a daily basis, neither of us can remember the last time we laughed as hard as we did this night.  food for the soul!
somewhere in the mix of working, parenting 3 littles, and everyday life in general we lost the little butterflies and the carefree fun.
after a couple shameless wipe-outs and a few laps around the rink holding {or squeezing} hands, i felt like i was 18 and dating again.

next, 
the shooting range



 i was a little nervous about this one.
i'd only held a gun for .2 seconds before this point and now i was gonna SHOOT the thing!
it was fantastic!
Justin loved teaching me every step of the way and then we spiced things up a bit with a little target competition.
i'm sure you don't have to guess who the winner was...
anyway, SO fun!

gettin' excited for the next one!
we've got a little list going, but i'd love to hear some ideas... got any??






1.10.2013

The Blackwelders 2012 edition...

it's a new year and we're excited about what the Lord has in store for our family!  
2012 left our hearts so full and thankful.
Justin has nurtured and grown his business.
Asa turned 2 in February and started preschool in September.
Bellamy turned 1 in June and started walking in July.
our second baby girl, Olive Marie, arrived in September and gets sweeter by the day.
as for me, i'm learning and growing and allowing the Lord to stretch me as a mom of 3 littles.  i can say i found joy in each day of 2012, and am expectant for SO much more in 2013. 

we asked our dear friend, Mindy Coleman, over at Colemans in Love to 
take our family photos in November and i've yet to share them!  
so, here are some of my faves...

(among the obstacles to overcome in this photoshoot were :
freezing temperatures, piercing winds, crying/whining babies, and wooden stacked heel boots...  thank you, Mindy, for overcoming these odds!)



hope your year's gotten off to a fabulous start!